Bell has struck agreements with nine aerospace firms to supply parts, software and services for its 360 Invictus helicopter, the company’s prototype submission for the US Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme.

The MQ-9 was given initial operating capability in 2007 and has been used extensively against insurgents and terrorists in the Middle East. However, it is vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles fielded by advanced adversaries such as China and Russia.

The US Department of Transportation has banned Chinese airlines from flying to the USA from mid-June in retaliation for a Chinese order that US officials say effectively prohibits US airlines from resuming China flights.

While hard hit North American carriers may have found some comfort from state support packages and the size of its home markets, they have taken action swift action to limit cash burn to protect their businesses while waiting for passenger demand to return

French-language media in Canada report that legacy carrier Air Canada is looking to exit its planned takeover of Transat AT, the parent company of Air Transat, as Canada’s biggest airline attempts to manage through the coronavirus crisis while preserving its liquidity.

Delta Air Lines marked the end of an era on 2 June when it retired its final McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft, closing 34 years during which the types served as workhorses in the fleets of US carriers.

Air Canada is seeking government approval to add five new destinations in Europe and South America to its air freight network starting 1 June, seeking to take advantage of demand for cargo capacity even as passenger travel demand remains stagnant.

American Airlines says it sees promising signs of a rebound in air travel after the coronavirus pandemic decimated the industry earlier this year, but warns that the bounce in demand is tenuous, and from a vanishingly low level.

Contenders to develop a new generation of supersonic aircraft continue to advance their projects despite the coronavirus pandemic, insisting that the downturn will not derail an inevitable widespread transition to supersonic commercial flight

Air Canada will launch an “abridged” schedule this summer with 97 destinations down from 220 last year, betting that coronavirus cases will decline and governments will ease restrictions to enable more international travel.

The US Department of Defense is not concerned that its in-development hypersonic missiles could suffer from a communications blackout caused by a cocoon of plasma. Radioing the high-stakes weapons could be critical, for instance, to abort a mission.

Virgin Orbit failed in its first attempt at launching a rocket into orbit from the wing of a modified Boeing 747-400 owing to an “anomaly”, but the company says it is pressing ahead with further tests.

Air Canada starting 1 June plans to fly three modified Airbus A319s with only 58 business-class seats between Toronto, Montreal and Ottowa, aiming to maintain air travel while minimizing the risk of coronavirus infection.

As the global coronavirus pandemic drags on, travellers and crew on intercontinental flights are getting used to wearing face coverings in public spaces and adhering to other measures such as social distancing, imposed by airlines, airports and authorities to stop the spread of infection.

United Airlines says it is working on drawing up plans to remove middle seats on some regional aircraft if it is forced to furlough pilots due to the slow recovery following the global coronavirus pandemic.

The company’s suppliers are not able to deliver parts on time, a disruption caused by the coronavirus. As a result, the number of F-35s produced this year could fall by 18 to 24 units below the 141 aircraft goal.

Hawaiian Airlines chief executive Peter Ingram says the lifting of Hawaii’s blanket coronavirus quarantine order for all inbound travelers will be integral to returning to normalcy for the airline, and the state, for which tourism is an essential industry.

Delta Air Lines says it aims to reduce its daily cash burn to zero by the end of the year as it begins to ramp up its schedule to accommodate a small uptick in demand after the global coronavirus pandemic decimated air travel several weeks ago.

Airlines are not sufficiently protecting crews from risks related to coronavirus or providing clear health guidance, endangering staff despite public claims to the contrary, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA).

Boeing intends to model the potential spread of coronavirus on aircraft as part of an effort to address onboard coronavirus contagion risks and reassure pandemic-weary passengers that air travel is safe.

Delta Air Lines says it will be retiring its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt global travel, creating openings for airlines to permanently streamline their fleets and save money by shifting to more efficient aircraft.

US Senators Jerry Moran and Mark Warner have put forward a bill to support the aerospace industry as the aftereffects of the global coronavirus pandemic continue to ravage the sector and threaten to destroy thousands of jobs.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) will allow airlines to suspend service to at least five additional locations on their networks in an ongoing process to minimize the costs of operating flights amid coronavirus while keeping the USA connected.

A group of Democratic US Senators have proposed legislation that require airlines offer full cash refunds for all tickets that were cancelled either by the airline or by the passenger during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mesa Air Group generated a $14 million operating profit for its fiscal second quarter, a 41% drop year-over-year, even as the coronavirus crisis has caused a significant drop air travel demand in the USA.

Allegiant Travel Company, the parent of Allegiant Air, reported a first-quarter loss as the coronavirus took its toll on leisure travel following shelter-in-place orders imposed across most of the USA.

United Airlines says it has named Brett Hart, currently the airline’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer, to be its new president, succeeding Scott Kirby, who is moving to the chief executive role later this month.

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs, also known as Skunk Works, has demonstrated an artificial intelligence-powered intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pod autonomously searching out and confirming a target in a demonstration.

Circumstances of the fatal runway incident at Austin-Bergstrom airport which involved an arriving Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 have yet to become clear, with air-ground communications providing little further detail on the sequence of events.

Oneworld alliance carriers British Airways and American Airlines have offered slots at London Heathrow or Gatwick to address competition concerns on transatlantic services arising from their joint business arrangement.

The weapons technology company is leading a team of subcontractors, including General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies to build the USA’s first production example of a hypersonic weapon, the Common Hypersonic Glide Body

The US Army is calling for ideas from US aerospace manufacturers for dealing with cognitive overload in its next-generation rotorcraft. The call for white papers comes ahead of the service’s plans to launch a “Holistic Situational Awareness—Decision Making” development programme in fiscal year 2021.

There remain great challenges to designing, building and fielding a reliable hypersonic weapon. Overcoming these seven technical problems is essential to advancing hypersonic missile technology to an operational state, according to leading experts at Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies.

The US Department of Defense is moving forward with a plan to build and fund a consortium of universities to boost its hypersonic missile development efforts and train a new generation of scientists and engineers in the field

The X-60A rocket, designed to test components of hypersonic missiles, is approaching flight readiness and safety reviews by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Those milestones come ahead of initial flight tests, which are expected to begin later this year and continue into 2021.

Alaska Air Group reported a $321 million operating loss during the first quarter as it seeks to reduce costs during the coronavirus downturn, which is a far cry from the same period in 2019 when the carrier generated $25 million in operating profit.

Later this year, the Airpower Teaming System will undergo ground testing, followed by taxi tests and its first flight test. After that, manned-unmanned teaming test flights will be conducted, says the firm. Testing is to be done at undisclosed locations in Australia.

Air Canada incurred a C$1.05 billion ($744 million) net loss in the first quarter of 2020, compared with a C$285 million net profit a year ago, and is warning that it will take “at least three years” for revenue and capacity levels to return to those seen in 2019.

Renowned investor Warren Buffett has dumped his stakes in four major US carriers, four years after joking that his firm Berkshire Hathaway was set to benefit from airlines’ tendency to increase fares ahead of its shareholder events.

American Airlines is counting on cost-saving fleet retirements and a $4.75 billion US CARES Act loan to boost its liquidity sufficiently to help see it through the next two quarters while waiting for travel demand to revive somewhat during the summer months.

With the financial impact of the coronavirus looming over the lead funders of the development of electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, the nascent industry is set to receive a small boost from the US Air Force in calendar year 2020.

Boeing will not unveil a major new aircraft programme anytime soon, but will continue investing funds into updates to existing products and efforts to develop next-generation manufacturing and design processes.

Boeing believes it will resume 737 Max deliveries in the third quarter of 2020, with chief executive David Calhoun saying the company is progressing well through certification work despite challenges posed by coronavirus.

Figures from IATA for March show global airline passenger traffic already down by more than 50% and collective load factors down more than 20 percentage points in a further illustration of how sharply the coronavirus crisis has hit the sector.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is exempting Frontier Airlines from operating routes to Charlotte, Detroit, Boston and Providence through 10 June, as a condition of its federal payroll support.

The FAA has reduced air traffic control services at 100 airports around the United States as the coronavirus crisis has made a significant impact on the volume of air traffic at secondary and tertiary airports across the nation.

Southwest Airlines paired its 28 April disclosure of a first-quarter net loss of $94 million and a cash burn of $900 million in April with the announcement of additional liquidity enhancements, as it looks ahead to a near-term environment virtually devoid of travel demand.

The US Department of Commerce has tightened restrictions on certain technology exports to China, Russia and Venezuela, a move with still-unclear ramifications on US aerospace suppliers. Those countries are declared adversaries of the USA, and the Commerce Department is blocking shipment to those nations of technology it believes could be repurposed for military uses.

Embraer’s fierce reaction to prospective suitor Boeing’s decision to bale from their intended commercial partnership is hardly surprising, given that the Brazilian airframer stands to lose heavily from the split.

Collapse of a joint venture agreement between Boeing and Embraer to promote the Embraer C-390 Millennium will likely make it more difficult to sell the medium-lift transport outside of Brazil, seriously hurting the overall sales of the aircraft programme.

While airline executives are struggling to figure out how to manage their fleets, pay staff and protect their businesses for a time after the coronavirus, employees on the front lines have been dealing with a very different reality.

The planned merger of Embraer’s commercial aircraft business with Boeing is hanging by a thread as the coronavirus crisis brings into sharp relief some of the problems with a transaction that seemed like a foregone conclusion just a few months ago.

Boeing is overhauling the management structure of its commercial aircraft division, creating a new supply chain oversight role and reviving a position with responsibility for all Boeing’s commercial aircraft programmes.

Delta Air Lines says it anticipates cutting its daily cash burn by 50% as the coronavirius pandemic drags on into the second quarter of the year and passenger demand continues to be at about 5% of normal.

After recent drone demonstrations, the US Army says it is one step closer to developing the aircraft and weapons needed to penetrate and destroy the advanced air defences of adversaries such as China or Russia.

Boeing is overhauling some of its management structure in an effort to streamline and integrate functions, improve cost efficiency and better prepare the company to succeed after the coronavirus pandemic.

Just a few weeks after the US Army selected the Bell V-280 Valor and Sikorsky Boeing SB-1 Defiant as its finalists in the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft competition, both teams are jockeying for position, arguing that their rotorcraft configuration will best suit the service

WestJet will lay off 1,700 pilots across its mainline carrier, regional subsidiary Encore and low-cost carrier Swoop, while keeping them on payrolls through the duration of Canada’s wage subsidy that ends in June.

Porter Airlines will receive funds from Canada’s wage subsidy programme, allowing the carrier to pay many of the hundreds of workers it furloughed in March after grounding its fleet and suspending all operations until June.

Boeing is preparing to reopen its CH-47 Chinook production facility in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania on 20 April after shutting down the facility about two and a half weeks prior due to risks of coronavirus contagion.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) continues sparring with the Federal Aviation Administration over the FAA’s decision not to require airlines to follow health and sanitation guidelines aimed at protecting workers from catching coronavirus.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has largely denied Spirit Airlines’ and Jet Blue Airways’ requests for exemption to minimum service rules required for carriers to accept government aid as they consolidate their networks due to the sharp drop-off in demand following the coronavirus global health emergency.

The FAA says it will extend slot relief at seven major US airports through the summer travel season so that airlines will not be penalized as a result of reduced flying schedules caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The aerospace industry downturn and Boeing’s financial position has raised fresh questions about its likelihood of developing the long-stalled New Mid-market Airplane (NMA), says two aerospace analysts

Two US passenger carriers say they have reached deals with the government on the amount of emergency financial aid promised to the industry as part of the $2 trillion CARES Act, as airlines realign their networks to face the realities of the sharp drop-off in travel demand since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Boeing confirms it delivered the last commercial 737NG in January when it handed two 737-800s to China Eastern Airlines, ending a production run of the type’s commercial variants that started in late 1997.

Boeing removed 313 aircraft from its backlog in March due the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, accounting adjustments and 150 737 Max cancellations, including newly disclosed terminations by Brazil’s Gol and Czech carrier Smartwings.

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines are the first two US carriers to apply for immediate exemptions under the Department of Transportation’s service requirements, striking 19 and 26 destinations in their respective networks.

Amid the coronavirus downturn an increasing number of aerospace manufacturers and suppliers are shifting to the production of medical products hospitals need to treat increasing numbers of seriously ill coronavirus patients.

The US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) final order on requirements air carriers must meet if they take advantage of government aid during the coronavirus pandemic gives additional flexibility to carriers on managing seasonal networks and relieves secondary airports which subsidised unprofitable routes.

Spirit AeroSystems has extended beyond 8 April the shutdown of several sites that support Boeing programmes, a change coming in response to Boeing’s decision to extend closures of its sites in Washington State.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is moving forward with an effort to establish noise certification standards for supersonic aircraft, a development intended to set the US government on a path to permitting a new class of ultra-fast jets.

Alaska-based Ravn Air Group will park nearly all its fleet and operate only three De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft in response to the lack of air travel demand, leaving rural and isolated communities in the state few options for air freight deliveries and passenger flights.

JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines have applied for federal payroll grants in time for the US Treasury Department to ensure quick approval, yet the chief executives of both carriers say they will need to raise additional capital.

Secondary airports across the United States have objected to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) show cause order which would require carriers who plan to take government relief as a result of the coronavirus pandemic maintain minimum service to certain points across the country.

The timing of the merger that created Raytheon Technologies seems about perfect for the company formerly known as United Technologies (UTC), which had been heavily reliant on the now-slumping commercial aerospace industry.

The US Department of the Treasury is asking airlines and air transport businesses to submit applications for government payroll grants via an online portal before the close of the 3 April business day.

As fallout from the coronavirus pandemic further pinches Boeing’s cash flow – financials already hurt by the grounding of the 737 Max – the US Air Force (USAF) has decided to release $882 million in payments withheld from the company in order to help fix a troublesome problem with the Boeing KC-46A refuelling camera boom.

Ultra-low cost carriers Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines have raised objections to a US Department of Transportation (DOT) show cause order that requires airlines who accept government aid to maintain a minimum level of service.

Boeing has taken initial steps to cut its workforce by offering voluntary separation packages to US-based employees, part of a plan to help the company weather what could be an extended industry downturn.

The speed at which a handful of US passenger airlines bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic will to a large degree determine how significantly the virus downturn wallops airframers Airbus and Boeing.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has published rules that US carriers must follow if they decide to accept government aid as a result of financial difficulties resulting from the global coronavirus crisis.

Airbus A220 operators are being instructed to remove certain full-authority digital engine control software, and install a new version, after a series of engine failures involving fracture of low-pressure compressor rotors.

Canadian airlines Air Canada, WestJet, Swoop, Air Transat and Sunwing have been accused of breach of contract in a class action lawsuit filed in the province of British Colombia for refusing to give passengers refunds to purchased tickets after the coronavirus severely impacted both domestic and international air travel.

The coronavirus relief law signed by President Donald Trump on 27 March sets aside billions of dollars in available loans to distressed and national-security-critical companies – categories into which aerospace manufacturers like Boeing and its suppliers may fall.

After a scathing report from the Pentagon’s top weapons tester that called the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout “not operationally effective, not operationally suitable, and not cyber survivable,” the US Navy says “many” of the unmanned helicopter’s deficiencies are now on track to be resolved before its scheduled deployment in late 2021

By keeping its eye on two goals - refuelling fighters and operating from a carrier - the MQ-25A Stingray development team expects its unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) by 2024; other functions can come later

US President Donald Trump has signed a $2 trillion aid package designed to support distressed companies and employees after the coronavirus pandemic massively disrupted the US economy in the past weeks.

While government support would provide vital relief to US aerospace manufacturing at a time of impending crisis, such aid could create a “synthetic” aircraft market to the detriment of the industry in future years.

Spirit AeroSystems expects by year-end to open a new facility in Prestwick, Scotland where it will research and develop manufacturing and production technologies aimed at helping the company land contracts to supply Airbus’ next single-aisle aircraft programme.

Governments across the world face a ‘moral hazard’ when it comes to supporting airlines through the coronavirus crisis, as they seek to ensure any investment benefits the citizens of their respective countries, according to CTAIRA analyst Chris Tarry.

As the US Congress debated a government assistance bill that would help the aviation and aerospace industry weather the financial storm of the coronavirus crisis, the Pentagon warned that the current pandemic could lead to geopolitical instability.

A government aid package currently making its way through the US Congress calls for loans and payroll support for airlines and aviation industry workers of $78 billion altogether, but links the assistance to strict conditions regarding executive pay, stock buybacks, dividends and requirements to maintain employee levels through the third quarter of the year.

Politicians from both houses of the US Congress continued negotiating a bill that would offer the air transport industry financial support in order to secure jobs and keep airlines afloat as the coronavirus crisis ravages the industry.

The US House of Representatives says it is willing to support the transportation industry as it works through its losses due to the coronavirus, including offering infrastructure grants to airports and tangible relief for aviation workers. However, it wants airlines to protect their employees and consumers before protecting their own bottom lines.

Airframe manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems will halt much of its Boeing-related work and Triumph Group will lay off several hundred staffers in response to the rapid coronavirus-led downturn in the aviation industry.

US aerospace companies continue to take radical measures to try to reduce the impact of the coronavirus as politicians negotiate a federal aid package designed to assist the companies through the crisis.

United has stepped back from its plans to cut 95% of its capacity and leave just a skeleton network in place through the coronavirus crisis, now reinstating some daily international routes to Europe, Asia and Australia, while running a few additional flights between now and the end of March to repatriate displaced travelers.

The coronavirus pandemic continues disrupting US air traffic control, with the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily shutting the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center and New York LaGuardia airport’s control tower, citing infections.

US airline chief executives have told Congress that government aid must flow quickly to avoid mass layoffs and furloughs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, while promising to limit executive pay and stop share buyback programs.

The laboratory aims to create a cheap and easily manufacturable jet engine which it can built in large numbers for swarms of low-cost cruise missiles. It claims the TDI-J85 is the first in “its class and price point to successfully operate at altitude”.

Hawaiian Airlines plans to cut 40% of its flights in April, including international routes and those to the continental USA, as the carrier prepares for a prolonged lack of demand and additional government travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The US Senate’s proposed financial aid package to businesses affected by the coronavirus would make $150 billion in loans available to “distressed” US companies, including those in the aerospace manufacturing sector.

The US government has offered its airline industry a package worth $58 billion to assist in supporting the sector as it manages through the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many to reduce schedules, ground aircraft and furlough staff.

Canadian cargo carrier CargoJet is redeploying some of its international capacity to domestic overnight routes, in order to bolster the supply chain to the country’s far north, largely indigenous communities which are only accessible by air.

A coalition of 30 aviation industry groups, lobby organisations and professional associations signed a joint letter to the US government insisting it implement urgent and coordinated measures to secure the sector and protect 11 million aviation-related jobs.

Canadian investigators have detailed an incident in which an Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER aborted take-off at 110kt after its crew saw that a preceding Embraer 190 had aborted its own take-off roll on the same runway.

US regulators have extended a directive to replace the gearbox and control software of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, to encompass powerplants not used for extended twin-engined operations (ETOPS) flights.

Spirit Airlines will cut its April capacity by 20% and its May capacity by 25% and reduce executive salaries as the ultra-low-cost carrier seeks to reduce costs in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Allegiant Travel Company, the parent company of Allegiant Air, announced today it will immediately cease activity on non-airline projects including construction of its Sunseeker Resort in Florida as it anticipates capacity cuts to rise to 35% during April and May.

Hawaiian Airlines will suspend its three weekly nonstop flights between Honolulu International airport (HNL) and New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Sapporo from 2 April through 18 July due to coronavirus risks, cutting into its revenue hopes for its Japan network.

Boeing is requesting at least $60 billion in government aid to support US aerospace manufacturing – funds the company says will help the industry weather the coronavirus downturn and protect 2.5 million jobs.

Trans States Airlines, which announced last month that it would be shuttering at the end of the year due to consolidation and a pilot shortage, has told its employees that it will go out of business nine months earlier, on 1 April. It could be the first US airline to fall victim to the coronavirus that has decimated the industry.

Flight instructors, flight schools, aviation museums, small airports and businesses associated with them are in for a rough ride as the coronavirus brings all US aviation- and travel-related commerce to a grinding halt in a short period of time.

President Donald Trump says the US government will “protect” Boeing from the adverse effects of the coronavirus downturn, suggesting financial aid to Boeing and other aerospace companies may be part of a pending economic relief plan.

The US government is working with Congress to pass legislation that would provide financial support a broad swath of US industry, including to the country’s airlines, which have been hammered in recent days by a collapse in demand.

The group, as previously reported, has asked for $50 billion in support of passenger airlines. But it also requests $8 billion for cargo carriers, and tax breaks from a fund that generated almost $16 billion in fiscal year 2018 revenue. It is receiving criticism after many airlines spent free cash flow on stock repurchases recently.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appealed to governments to take “urgent measures” to support cargo operations, which is instrumental to transport essential medical supplies and keep the economy functioning as airlines cut passenger service up to 75%.

US airlines are seeking at least $50 billion in aid to support them as they manage through the coronavirus crisis that has caused a sharp drop in demand, leading to mounting losses for an industry accustomed to years of progressive profit growth.

Air Canada says it is retracting its financial guidance and cutting its operations as the global coronavirus pandemic hits the airlines, while asking the Canadian government to help with the financial losses it expects to suffer in the coming months.

United Airlines will reduce capacity by half in April and May and has cut executive officers’ salaries 50% in response to a pandemic United’s executives say makes operating an airline “nearly impossible”.

The business aviation industry might be more insulated from coronavirus fallout than the commercial sector but likewise faces an unknown future as corporations globally restrict or outright prohibit business travel

As the coronavirus crisis creates increased panic across Europe and North America, airports across the US are struggling to assist passengers affected by canceled flights as they grapple with the financial effects of the virus on their industry in the coming months.

Delta Air Lines has told employees that it is grounding 300 aircraft, representing 30% of its total aircraft fleet, and cutting all flights to mainland Europe as the coronavirus cripples travel and grips the world.

American Airlines has further slashed international capacity following increased US travel restrictions for foreign nationals, as the US government attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus within the country.

The US Marine Corps’ ambitious plan to create a vertical-take-off-and-landing unmanned air vehicle that could carry out a long list of missions has been halted after years of warnings from US aerospace manufacturers that the envisioned aircraft would be expensive and require a lengthy development period.

As the coronavirus crisis rapidly disrupts airline operations worldwide, major US carriers are taking measures to prevent price gouging for passengers desperate to return to the United States before travel restrictions between Europe and the US take effect on Friday.

IATA has warned governments must be ready to provide support to counter the impact of travel bans implemented to counter the coronavirus outbreak, warning measures such as the ban imposed by the USA were not included in its recent worse-case scenario for the financial hit to the industry.

After President Donald Trump announced a travel ban from Europe to the United States from the end of this week, there was some confusion as to what exactly the measure would mean for US carriers and their guests.

Known by its “Air Force One” call sign when the US president flies aboard, the VC-25B are to operate as the USA’s top executive transports for the next 30 years. Modifications are being done at Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas facility.

Almost one year after the Boeing 737 Max was grounded, Southwest Airlines chief Gary Kelly has alluded to a fringe financial benefit from the Max situation as the budget carrier braces for the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

American Airlines has extended the suspension and cancellation of numerous international flights, including to regions that have not yet been severely impacted by the coronavirus, such as Latin America.

United Airlines is preparing for a dark scenario for the aviation industry in the coming months as the coronavirus decimates demand and customers stay away from travel in order to protect themselves from becoming infected with the fast-moving flu-like disease.

Alaska Airlines doesn’t plan to cut capacity for March and April, unlike many other airlines. It is still considering options to respond to the coronavirus epidemic that has hit the travel industry hard in the past month.

Hawaiian Airlines is struggling with a dramatic decline in business due to the global COVID-19 epidemic, as passengers cancel both international and, increasingly, domestic travel in an effort to protect themselves from becoming infected.

The downturn in aerospace stocks won’t halt Boeing and Collins Aerospace from investing in new commercial aircraft technologies, executives from those manufacturers said on 5 March during discussions at the US Chamber of Commerce aviation summit in Washington, DC.

After suspending its flights to South Korea in late February, Hawaiian Airlines now has halted flights from Hawaii to Tokyo’s Haneda International airport following declining demand for capacity to Asia amid the spiraling coronavirus scare.

Aerospace analysts are now considering whether the coronavirus-induced airline industry downturn, should it persist, might lead airlines to defer aircraft deliveries or even cancel orders. While aircraft makers say their industry remains healthy, the downturn is also raising questions about potential fallout to Boeing’s 737 Max, an aircraft Boeing expects will be certificated by mid-year.

Northrop Grumman says Australia should consider advancing its acquisition of the US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAV following the Trump administration’s proposal to pause production for the programme in FY2021 and FY2022.

Airlines with limited cash reserves face the greatest challenge in 2020 as businesses cancel travel plans and consumers reevaluate vacations due to the coronavirus, executives say 5 March during discussions at the US Chamber of Commerce aviation summit in Washington, DC.

GE Aviation will implement a hiring freeze and reduce 2020 spending in response to a new 737 Max agreement with Boeing, while contending with an expected $200-$300 million first-quarter hit from the coronavirus outbreak.

US airline chief executives met with President Donald Trump and other officials in Washington, DC on 4 March to discuss their industry’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. They also urged Trump to assure the American public that air travel remains safe – a request coming as the industry reels from sagging demand and virus-spooked travellers.

United Airlines has slashed North American flight schedules 10% starting this spring, implemented a hiring freeze, offered staff unpaid leave and postponed some salary increases – all in response to sagging demand from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

“Benefits are expected to include higher lift capacity in almost all flight conditions, including a greater than 1,350kg (3,000lb) lift increase at hot and high conditions, a 33% lower manufacturing cost, 75% lower maintenance costs and 3% lower fuel consumption,” the company said in 2017.

In the year since the second 737 Max crash, Boeing has overhauled much of its top leadership, including naming of David Calhoun as new chief executive and Stan Deal as chief of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Those changes have largely been viewed positively by aerospace analysts. They are optimistic Boeing’s new leaders have skills needed to move the company toward recovery.

With three rotors, spinning in three different axes, Boeing’s compound helicopter bid for the US Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition might strike the novice as complex. But it’s not so, says the aerospace manufacturer.

Because attritable aircraft are designed to be limited-use, and cheap enough to be lost in combat or thrown-away when obsolete, the traditional model of capturing long-term business government via vendor lock – selling proprietary aircraft to the US Department of Defense and then making profits on MRO and upgrades – could be disrupted.

The US Air Force is rethinking the way it plans for war in the Pacific Ocean. It is eyeing a new class of unmanned air vehicle that could be hidden inside shipping containers and spread across small islands in the western Pacific. Should war ever come, the UAVs could be rocket launched within a matter of hours in massive volleys from dozens or even thousands of secret sites.

US business aircraft charter company Wheels Up has acquired aircraft operator Gama Aviation Signature, a move that continues fast-growing Wheels Up’s expansion following a recent equity sale to Delta Air Lines.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines cancelled their flights to northern Italy as passengers become increasingly skittish about traveling to areas where the coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, has rapidly spread in the past few days.

The US Air Force’s decision to cancel the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW) and proceed with Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) came down to size and shape of the missile, in addition to budgetary pressures and a desire to move toward production faster.

As older Lockheed Martin F-16s approach the end of their service life five to eight years from now, the US Air Force (USAF) may consider replacing the manned fighters with attritable unmanned air vehicles (UAV).

While Asian airlines have borne the brunt of the coronavirus crisis so far, US carriers are closely monitoring the situation, and will likely take a short-term loss as the US government sends mixed messages and bookings begin to decline.

Hawaiian Airlines says it is suspending flights to Seoul Incheon International airport in South Korea, becoming the second US carrier to stop flying to the country since the outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, several weeks ago.

Cape Air has become the first operator to begin revenue flights of the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, having dispatched the type on an inaugural commercial flight from its Hyannis base to Nantucket island on 22 February.

Silver Airways has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to operate flights on larger-gauge aircraft between the United States and both the Dominican Republic and St Maarten.

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has started building production examples of its XQ-58A Valkyrie attritable unmanned air vehicle, despite an investigation into an October 2019 mishap which delayed an expected contract from the US Air Force.

United Airlines has withdrawn the full-year 2020 guidance it disclosed on 21 January as part of its fourth-quarter 2019 earnings report because of unexpected business losses from the coronavirus outbreak in the Asia Pacific region.

US regulators have adopted new measures intended to improve pilot skills by providing leadership and mentoring training for captains, as well as opportunities for new-hire pilots to observe flight operations before becoming a crew member.

The DoD believes it must pursue AI or it will be leapfrogged by adversaries such as China and Russia who could use the technology to prevail on a future battlefield, for example, by using software to obverse and react to the USA faster. It also thinks restrictions on AI must be set up.

The Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque (EDAT) tail rotors first flew on the light, twin-engined 429 helicopter in May 2019. The aircraft is being tested at the company’s Mirabel, Canada facility and has about 25h of flight time.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has successfully tested on the ground a space laser communication system that it intends to use to securely transfer data between its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air vehicle and satellites.

Boeing has asked for its tax breaks to be suspended amid an acrimonious and escalating trade war between the USA and the European Union, targeting its respective aircraft manufacturers, that threatens to play long-term havoc on aircraft deliveries on both continents.

Air Canada revenue and net profit rose slightly in 2019, but results were tempered by the ongoing grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft and the start of the coronavirus crisis in Asia, the airline says.

American Airlines says it expects it will not have the Boeing 737 Max in its schedule until mid-August, the last major US airline to plan through the lucrative summer peak travel season without the new generation aircraft, which has been grounded since March 2019.

The US Navy’s (USN) newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, has been cleared as operationally safe for launching and recovering all naval aircraft types using its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).

Boeing believes possible upgrades to its P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, including the integration of new anti-ship cruise missiles, bombs, sea mines and decoys, among other payloads, could help it increase international sales potential.

Boeing received no new orders for large commercial aircraft in January, and delivered only 13 aircraft – a trickle of activity for a company long accustomed to big orders and dozens of monthly deliveries.

The new head of Boeing Global Services (BGS) faces the critically important task of keeping his business, which is key to Boeing’s growth, on track and growing amid turmoil caused by the 737 Max grounding.

Aerospace company Curtiss-Wright is using the Singapore show to pitch a new-generation flight recorder that can collect 25h of cockpit audio, meeting a mandate for commercial aircraft set to take effect in 2021.

Just five days after it extended the cancellation of flights between the United States and Hong Kong, American Airlines was once again forced to revise its schedule in light of coronavirus fears and subsequent customer cancellations.

Boeing’s head of sales still insists narrowbody aircraft lack sufficient comfort for operating medium-haul “mid-market” flights – an assertion seemingly opposing speculation the company may shelve a widebody development project in favour of a narrowbody.

Spirit AeroSystems’ latest Boeing 737 Max production agreement for 2020 covers barely a third of the fuselages it delivered in 2018, and appears to put Boeing at least four years behind its ramp-up schedule for the re-engined jet.

US FAA chief Steve Dickson has defended the administration’s decision to wait for empirical evidence to order the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, rather than follow other authorities’ precautionary approach.

Boeing has uncovered a new problem with the 737 Max aircraft’s flight control computers, though the company does not anticipate the issue will upend its expectation to receive Max certification in the middle of 2020.

Industry experts say Boeing must move quickly towards making a decision on its new mid-market airplane (NMA), a project it has been talking about for years but was recently put on the back burner as it continues to deal with the fallout from the year-long 737 Max crisis.

In total, four flights were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, says manufacturer Boeing on 4 February. The aircraft demonstrated 21 missions, though the type of missions were not disclosed.

Bombardier is discussing a potential sale of its business jet unit to Textron, according to reports, a move that if completed would catapult Textron into the large-cabin business jet segment and mark another divestiture by once-mighty Bombardier.

American Airlines says it is suspending all flights to China as the coronavirus spreads, sickening more than a thousand and killing almost 200 people. The decision comes a day after the carrier’s pilots sued to stop the carrier’s flights to the country.

The company sees continued sales to US military services as well as potential wins in international fighter procurement competitions, such as in Finland, Switzerland and Canada, steadily boosting production of the combat aircraft.

Boeing is assessing which segment of the commercial aircraft market it should actually address with its next aircraft development programme, suggesting options other than its proposed New Mid-market Airplane (NMA) may be on the table.

Newfangled electric-vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also referred to as air taxis, are still at an early stage of development but are becoming a leading topic of discussion in the aviation industry - especially at the 2020 Heli-Expo conference in Anaheim, Califonia.

Airbus has disclosed that it will take a provision of €3.6 billion ($4 billion) to cover penalty payments following its preliminary agreements to settle investigations by three states into alleged corruption in its activities.

The deal comes as Kopter says it expects to concurrently receive airworthiness certificates from the FAA and EASA in 2020, regulatory approval that will clear the way for the upstart aerospace manufacturer to deliver its first helicopter before the end of the year.

SyberJet Aircraft has completed a series of key tests on its Honeywell Primus Epic 2.0-based SyberVision avionics suite for the SJ30i business jet, as it targets certification and service entry of the high-speed light-twin for early 2021.

One day after basketball star Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter accident, the world’s largest helicopter association attempted to calm public fears about rotorcraft at an industry conference not far from the crash site.

Foreseeing a day in the not-too-distant future when pilotless helicopters may fly to people in need of rescue, Collins Aerospace’s next generation hoist, the Pegasus, will have the ability to be controlled digitally – even eventually wirelessly.

Universal Avionics believes that a lack of helicopter pilots in the future will mean operators will increasingly need to rely on solo pilots aided by automated technologies, such as helmets with augmented reality glasses, to handle workloads while flying missions.

In a partial break with its partner Uber – as well as its own historical business model – Bell plans to vertically integrate aircraft production, flight operations and nearly everything in between, in order to grab a large piece of the nascent electric-vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxi industry.

The AFRL says that the XQ-58A met all its test objectives and expanded its flight envelope, including flying at an undisclosed higher altitude as part of an effort to gather data in representative real-world flight conditions.

Supersonic aircraft developer Boom has partnered with US training support and services company Flight Research (FRI) to test its XB-1 technology demonstrator in a supersonic corridor stretching across the Mojave Desert.

JetBlue Airways Corporation on 23 January reported a net profit of $161 million during the fourth quarter of 2019 that slightly beat analyst expectations despite being a 5% decline year-on-year versus $170 million in 2018.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating reports it gave Southwest Airlines “preferential treatment” when it authorised the airline’s routes from the US mainland to Hawaii last year.

Boeing intends to restart 737 Max production several months before midyear and ahead of the Max’s return to service, meaning production could start humming again within three months, Boeing chief executive David Calhoun says on 22 January.

The purpose of the flights is to show the US Army that the aircraft, when fitted with long-range radar and air-launched effects, can serve as a target spotter for the service’s next generation of tactical ballistic missiles, the Long Range Precision Fires system.

American Airlines served 30.3 million passengers at Miami International airport in 2019, a year-over-year increase of 1.7% and the most passengers it has carried through Miami since establishing the hub 30 years ago, the Dallas-based airline states 21 January.

The US Navy envisions using the CMV-22 to ferry Pratt & Whitney F135 turbines to and from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is powered by the F135 and the service needs the ability to replace the stealth fighter’s power plant while at sea.

Boeing has scheduled the 777X’s maiden sortie for 23 January, an event that will finally kick off the revamped widebody’s delayed flight-test programme and potentially keep the airframer on track to begin deliveries in early 2021.

Two years into his role, Ingram is skilfully guiding the company through an evolution that would test any leader: answering the fierce competition from the US mainland, executing a major joint venture, overseeing a transformational infrastructure project and plotting the carrier’s next geographic and fleet expansion.

Two years into his role, Ingram is skilfully guiding the company through an evolution that would test any leader: answering the fierce competition from the US mainland, executing a major joint venture, overseeing a transformational infrastructure project and plotting the carrier’s next geographic and fleet expansion.

The aim of DARPA’s Gremlins is to create low-cost UAVs that could be air-launched and recovered in swarms. The aircraft could be used for a variety of applications including as a surveillance platform or as a loitering munition.

Delta Air Lines says it will add 13 new daily nonstop flights from Miami to US destinations as its strategy following its $1.9 billion investment in Latin American carrier LATAM Airlines begins to take shape.

The release of a video by the joint Sikorsky-Boeing team on 17 January helped to quell questions swirling around the status of the helicopter, a development and test effort which was in doubt after gearbox troubles put it behind schedule.

Daher saw flat sales in 2019, with deliveries of its Kodiak and TBM single-engined aircraft families slipping slightly, following what it calls a “tough year in the entry-level business aviation market”.

One year ago, Airbus executives in Canada laid out broad strokes of a plan to make the A220 a commercial success. Chief among the company’s goals: to boost A220 production, land sales with major airlines, reduce costs and, ultimately, make A220s profitable.

Delta Air Lines says that one of its aircraft dumped fuel over suburban Los Angeles as it was returning to Los Angeles international airport after declaring an emergency, slightly injuring 17 children and nine adults who were outdoors on a school playground.

Delta Air Lines, the only major US airline without Boeing 737 Max in its fleet, posted strong full-year 2019 results, as passenger demand rose and the carrier benefitted from rivals’ difficulties with the grounded aircraft.

Longtime Boeing board member David Calhoun became chief executive of the Chicago-based company on 13 January, stepping into the spotlight amid a seething controversy while pledging to improve Boeing’s transparency and commitment to safety.

New or recent entrants to the aircraft leasing marketplace that lack discipline risk becoming buying opportunities for the top handful of lessors, says Air Lease Corporation chief executive John Plueger at the 9 January Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2020 Defense Outlook & Commercial Aerospace Forum in New York.

Canadian commuter airline Harbour Air expects to conduct additional flight tests of its electric-powered de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver as soon as next week as it builds off a successful first flight last month.

Bristow Group deferred delivery of its Airbus Helicopters H175s just 10 days prior to entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, an order the operator axed barely six months later as part of the financial restructuring.

Boeing has started temporarily reassigning employees affected by the pending 737 Max production halt, while major supplier Spirit AeroSystems has offered some staff the option to take “voluntary” layoffs.

Boeing now is recommending pilots complete flight simulator training prior to returning to the cockpits of 737 Max – a position reversal for a company that long insisted computer-based training was sufficient.

They may be known as rich men’s toys, but private jets are now increasingly being used to get cancer sufferers to vital medical assistance, thanks to one determined US charity, the Corporate Angel Network

US fractional ownership company NetJets has taken delivery of its first Cessna Citation Longitude business jet from an October 2018 order for up to 175 of the super-midsize type. Service entry is expected early in the first quarter.

US low-cost carrier JetBlue says that it will offset all of its emissions from domestic flights beginning in July 2020, becoming the first major US airline to do so in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint from flight operations.

American Airlines says it is still negotiating a compensation agreement with Boeing for the grounding of the airline’s 737 Max fleet, now in its 10th month, and that it expects to share the proceeds with its employees.

Consumer confidence in the US economy and a declining unemployment rate drove demand for air travel in 2019. That was good news for the four major US carriers, but for three of them there was the question of whether they would have the aircraft to meet that rising demand.

Ravn Air Group on 30 December says it expects schedule disruptions through January as its Alaska-based regional airline recovers from an attack on the company’s networks that forced it to cancel flights of its De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100s.

Investigators have carried out a series of observations to examine whether pilots of an Atlas Air Boeing 767-300 freighter could have accidentally activated a go-around switch while operating other flight controls.

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration unveiled three new King Air 350ER aircraft at Joint Base Andrews on 18 December to be used to measure air and ground radiation contamination coming from events such as nuclear explosions or accidents.

Leidos signed an agreement to acquire privately owned Dynetics for $1.65 billion in cash, a deal which would add several up-and-coming military weapons, including hypersonic missiles and glide munitions, to the company’s portfolio.

Garmin has secured US certification for the next-generation G1000 NXi integrated flightdeck on the Embraer Phenom 100, and says its will perform the first upgrades on the entry-level business jet “very soon”.

The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker programme got off to a bumpy start in 2019. Delivery stoppages because of foreign object debris and three category one deficiencies put the already-late programme on an even more delayed schedule.

The past year has been one in which Gulfstream fired back against competitors, launching an aircraft that is set help the company regain its slot in the top echelon of the traditional business jet market. That, of course, is the G700, a large-cabin jet that Gulfstream launched at the NBAA ...

Once there was an aircraft maker called Boeing that was admired worldwide as a leader in just about everything it did, hailed as the very model of an engineering-led company guided by a belief that aircraft should be flown by pilots, assisted by computers. For good measure, it was admired as a leader in commercial aircraft development and sales – and as a financial leader, both in annual profits and stock price gains.

Titan Aviation Holdings, the dry-leasing specialist subsidiary of airplane lessor Atlas Air Worldwide, says it has entered into a joint venture with Bain Capital Credit to develop a cargo aircraft leasing portfolio as it seeks to benefit from the continuing rapid rise in e-commerce.

Bell will no longer make predictions of when its 525 Relentless super-medium transport helicopter will finish Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification testing and enter into service after several years of delays.

Delta Air Lines and biofuels maker Gevo say the airline will buy 10 million gallons (39.4 million litres) of biofuel annually in an effort to reduce the carrier’s carbon footprint and meet global aviation sustainability goals.

A startup company in Southern California which hopes to revolutionise the daily commute will launch service in the coming days and plans to offer full air-based commuting schedules from up to 40 regional airports beginning in January.

Boeing confirms it will suspend 737 production in January, a move that comes 10 months after the aircraft’s grounding and that signal significantly-broader fallout from a crisis that has already hammered Boeing.

Bell’s 360 Invictus, the company’s proposal for the US Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition, will receive a power boost from a supplemental power unit, a Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 turboshaft.

Mesa Air Group reported a net profit of $12 million for its fourth quarter of 2019, down from $19 million during the same quarter in 2018 as Phoenix-based regional carrier Mesa Airlines expands its fleet.

IATA sees all regions except North American carriers making less profits in 2019 than it expected six months ago, but by contrast expects all these other regions to improve their performance next year.

UAV Turbines unveiled to the market on 10 December a demonstrator hybrid-electric “microturbine” for small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) that it says allows drones to harness the efficiency of a turbine, but also the instant power of an electric motor.

The US Air Force (USAF) has started searching for a new airborne command, control and communications operations center to replace the Boeing E-4B, and the service is asking US defence manufacturers for input.

The decision by United Airlines to name Scott Kirby as its next chief executive has been firmly endorsed by United’s pilot union, which views the change as a sign that United will continue its aggressive expansion.

Bombardier is stepping up its commitment to helping reduce the carbon footprint of business aviation, with its headquarters in Montreal becoming the first facility outside the USA to take delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Virgin Atlantic’s order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s has played a central part in the World Trade Organization’s latest assessment as to whether subsidies influenced the competitive field against Boeing in the commercial aircraft market.

Hartzell Propeller and Raisbeck Engineering have secured US supplemental type certification (STC) for a five-blade, composite swept propeller on the Beechcraft King Air 200 series, and are preparing the first twin-engined turboprop for modification and redelivery in December.

Textron Aviation has sold a Cessna Citation Longitude to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). Scheduled for delivery in 2021, the super-midsize business jet will be configured for flight inspection and calibration missions, joining the JCAB’s fleet of five CJ4’s light twins in service.

Boeing rolled out its latest and largest 737 Max variant, the 737-10, at its Renton plant on 22 November. The aircraft, which is more than a simple stretch as it features a revised main landing gear design, is expected to fly in 2020.

The US Department of Transportation has formally approved the joint venture proposed by Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic Airways, tentatively approved in August, while agreeing with opponents of the collaboration that Alitalia would definitely not be included under the deal.

Business jet output for the first nine months of 2019 reached its highest level for a decade, due to the introduction and production ramp-up of a slew of new and long-awaited aircraft models, and renewed confidence in the market from its customer base.

Shipments of fixed-wing business aircraft jumped 7% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2019 to 603 units, an increase reflecting a surge in business jet shipments that comes amid sagging turboprop and rotorcraft figures.

​A new company, billed as the first members-only operator to offer per-seat scheduled charter services on long-range business jets, is poised to begin services on 6 December with New York to Fort Lauderdale its first route.

Whistleblowers at the US Federal Aviation Administration and the US Department of Transportation contend that some aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines that had previously been operated by airlines outside the US remained in service despite having maintenance records that were “alarmingly insufficient,” according to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, ...

HAPSMobile’s Hawk30 solar-powered, high-altitude platform completed its second test flight in the last two months when it touched down after a 1.5h flight at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California.

​Cockpit-voice
recordings from a Boeing 727-200 which landed with its nose-gear retracted in
Alabama captured the captain admitting that he should have executed a
go-around, after an unsafe gear warning and automated 'pull up' alerts.

​Air Transport Services Group, a provider of medium wide-body aircraft leasing, contracted air transportation and related services, reported higher third quarter results after it integrated charter carrier Omni Air International, which it acquired late last year.

Garmin plans to announce new aircraft platforms for its autoland safety system next year, and says that while the automatic landing capability is currently limited to models equipped with the G3000 flightdeck, “there is no reason” why the technology could not be adapted “at a later date” for other types ...

A strategic partnership between flight training provider CAE and corporate aviation investment firm Directional Aviation – announced in August – is now complete after the two companies concluded the deal in early November.

Just as we did not wake up one morning to find department store lift attendants had disappeared, or light rail systems in our cities suddenly without drivers sitting in the cab, the advent of autonomous passenger aircraft is unlikely to be as much a revolution as a decades-long journey of ...

​Brazilian planemaker Embraer says it delivered 44 aircraft in the third quarter of 2019, including its first new flagship E195-E2, to launch customer Azul, bringing total deliveries in 2019 to 117 aircraft.

Airbus expects newly-imposed import tariffs arising from its subsidies dispute with Boeing to affect a small number of deliveries this year, but is concerned that the situation will become more difficult in mid-2020.

Avianca has disclosed that it will begin a codesharing agreement with Brazil's domestic market leader Gol, further expanding the Colombian flag carrier's network in South America's largest aviation market as it moves forward from a challenging year.

​Commercial aircraft designers need to rethink fundamental
assumptions that pilots have sufficient knowledge, training and skill to cope
with failures, the inquiry into the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max accident has
concluded.

Traffic crossing the North Atlantic is predicted to increase by 50% over the next decade, and the region already has the busiest oceanic airspace in the world by far. The technological response to address this air traffic management (ATM) capacity challenge is a world first.

Our final video from NBAA 2019 covers the major developments from the second business day of the convention, including our exclusive interview with Tom Vice, president of supersonic business jet developer Aerion, who outlines his plans for a first flight of the AS2 in 2024.

Supersonic business jet flight will happen in the next five years, will carry sustainable alternative jet fuel, and will fly in a noise envelope acceptable not just to regulators but also the public at large.

Piaggio is planning to launch a corporate shuttle version of the P180 Avanti Evo, opening up a new market for twin-pusher turboprop programme. Speaking at the show this morning Andrea di Fede, Piaggio's head of sales, said the Italian airframer – which is currently in administration – has evaluated the ...

Easing pilot workloads to improve safety is a passion for Universal Avionics (UA) chief executive Dror Yahav. A pilot himself, Yahav joined the company from Israeli parent Elbit six months ago, tasked with bringing together the technologies and the ambitions of both companies.

The personal security of VVIP principals on business aircraft is more significant than ever before. And with corporations, government officials and heads of state traveling to – or over – troubled global hotspots, the industry is looking to step up their protection while they’re in the air.

​Global satellite communications company Inmarsat Aviation has returned to the show to highlight the rapid uptake of the its Jet ConneX inflight Wi-Fi solution, which, since its introduction in 2016 has been installed and activated on over 600 business jets worldwide.

US maintenance repair and overhaul company Constant Aviation has now carried out more than 20 Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flightdeck upgrades for the Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet. To mark the success of the modification programme – known as the Nextant 604XT – the Cleveland, Ohio-based company is offering ...

​Safran Nacelles is celebrating its most significant tier one win, supplying the complete nacelle on the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700s that will power Gulfstream’s new G700, unveiled at the show on Monday evening.

Lockheed Martin has defended both the stealth coatings of the F-35A and its efforts to boost the supply of spare parts, as it eyes the conclusion of three fighter campaigns in 2020 and lower operating costs.

US investigators probing the inadvertent landing on a taxiway by a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 have disclosed that no NOTAM information had been issued warning of inoperative runway lights at the time.

Cirrus Aircraft is showcasing a pair of Vision Jets at the static display, as it seeks to raise awareness of the single-engine jet and the Cirrus brand in the corporate and commercial aviation community.

Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, says net adjusted income fell 16% to $81.5 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the same period a year ago as increased competition weighed on airline’s results.

Kevin McAllister, Boeing’s commercial aircraft chief since 2016, has become the first management casualty of the ongoing 737 Max drama which has grounded all of the next-generation aircraft for the past eight months after two accidents killed 346 people.

Daher returns to NBAA following US Federal Aviation Administration certification for the TBM 940 with the announcement that it has completed its purchase of Quest Aircraft from Japan’s Setouchi Holdings.

Revenue at Collins Aerospace jumped 64% in the third quarter, primarily due to acquisitions, prompting parent company United Technologies (UTC) to once again raise its 2019 full-year financial estimates for the business unit ahead of a planned corporate merger with Raytheon.

Pratt & Whitney's third-quarter operating profit rose 15% year-on-year to $471 million on growth in its military and commercial aftermarket as well as due to cost reduction for its geared turbofan (GTF) engine programme and favorable commercial OEM mix.

From an all-new Gulfstream to a £1.4 billion deal for Embraer from Flexjet and debuts for at least two new aircraft, there was news aplenty as the business aviation community descended on Las Vegas for the opening of the NBAA annual convention.

Textron Aviation officials are upbeat ahead of this year’s NBAA, as the company’s new super midsize jet, the Cessna Citation Longitude, makes its official post-certification debut at an international airshow.

US membership-based private aircraft firm Wheels Up has returned to NBAA reiterating its commitment to grow its membership from 6,000 to 10,000 members within two years, and deliver on-demand private aviation to world as soon as possible.

European regulators say that the earliest date they may be able to certify the Boeing 737 Max to return to service would likely be in January 2020 following flight tests independent of the Federal Aviation Administration, Reuters news service reports on 21 October.

​Boeing says instant text messages between company pilots suggesting that it may have had prior understanding of the flaws in its Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) on 737 Max aircraft have been misinterpreted, and it was “unfortunate” that they were released without “meaningful explanation”.

Qantas is likely to launch its Project Sunrise flights on a commercial basis from 2023, and believes the initiative could lead to multiple ultra-long-haul routes to Australia from Europe and North America.

​Tanzania's government is ordering a single De Havilland
Canada Dash 8-400, marking the first firm deal for the manufacturer since
investors acquired the former Q400 turboprop programme from Bombardier.

There have been hints before that the automotive sector was looking with interest at the potential offered by urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, but the pact between Boeing and Porsche provides the most concrete evidence so far.

Boeing handed over to the US Federal Aviation Administration 17 October instant messages between two Boeing pilots in which one expresses serious concern with 737 Max's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

It is something of a curiosity that, given the plagued history of previous such strategies within the airline sector, Delta Air Lines’ buying of minority stakes in operators around the world has garnered little of the scepticism that accompanied similar spending sprees from other carriers.

​Deliveries at Textron’s aircraft manufacturers were stable in the third quarter, helping the parent company raise its earnings per share and operating margins during the time frame even as defence products continued to drag on the company’s income.

​Air Canada on 16 October became the latest airline to extend the removal of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft from its winter schedule, as an increasing number of carriers expect the jet will not be approved to return to service until early 2020.

​Embraer executives hope the efficiency and performance of its new E175-E2 regional jet, the third and final member of the company’s E2 family, will convince major US airlines to change the contractual “scope clauses” that currently create a barrier for operating the new aircraft in the United States.

Daher has secured US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for its TBM 940, and customer deliveries of the upgraded single-engined turboprop to local owners and operators are now under way.

Lithuanian charter carrier GetJet Airlines is looking at adding further widebodies, after signing a contract to operate its first long-haul flights with an Airbus A330 on services linking Warsaw to Toronto.

German automaker Porsche is forming a team with Boeing to analyze demand for vertical takeoff flying taxis designed to ferry people around cities and over gridlock traffic as it aims to stay in step with the next generation of travel.

Delta Air Lines scored increases in passenger volume and revenue in summer 2019 and expects the same in the fourth quarter, thanks to strong demand from US consumers and the grounding of Boeing's 737 Max, which was never part of Delta's fleet.

The planned relaunch of Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow Air has been delayed until December, according to a statement provided by the owner of the assets of the shuttered airline, though many unanswered questions remain as to the feasibility of refloating it.

​Hawaiian Airlines raises its forecasted operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) for the third quarter of the year due to better than expected yields in long-haul markets, especially international travel, the company says on 7 October.

A modern fighter will play the starring role in any air force of merit. With advanced sensors, powerful engines, heavy payloads, and a range of high of specification capability, the modern fighter is an impressive feat of engineering and a potent symbol of power. Yet this comes at significant ...

Textron Aviation has delivered the first Cessna Citation Longitude business jets, with the shipments in early October signalling what the US airframer describes as “the start of a new dimension in business travel”.

SyberJet is readying the first SJ30i for its maiden sortie in the coming weeks, and will debut the aircraft, along with a full-scale interior mock-up at the National Business Aviation Association convention and exhibition in Las Vegas from 19-21 October.

Some names stick. Bell designates the latest incarnation of the venerable AH-1 attack helicopter as the AH-1Z Viper – sometimes referred to as the ‘Zulu’ in casual conversation. The most recent version of the UH-1, meanwhile, is the UH-1Y Venom. While the Viper and Venom are thoroughly new rotorcraft, the marines of squadron HMLA-169 use the names their fathers and uncles used for the original AH-1s and UH-1s that served in the Vietnam War: Cobra and Huey.

US investigators probing a fatal landing accident involving a Shorts 330 freighter have determined that the crew had a history of intentional procedural non-compliance during approach, including late turns, high descent rates and excessive manoeuvring.